askance
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for askance, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adv — In a disapproving or suspicious way.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adv
In a disapproving or suspicious way.
“The scandal of opposition died down, and the stone-carver himself, though the town-folk continued to eye him askance, was able to secure other work through the favor of discriminating patrons.”
Etymology
The origin is unknown. It may come from Middle English askances ('as if'), or from Old French a escone ('hidden') or Italian a scancio ('obliquely'). Compare asquint, Middle English askoyn ('at a slant, askance'), Dutch schuin, schuins ('sideways'), schuiven ('to shove'), and schuinte ('slope').
Full origin of askance →